Device with improved shutter

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a shutter device designed to close off a bay ( 6 ) or other opening, the shutter ( 1 ) having side edges ( 2, 3 ) displaced in guide tracks ( 4, 5 ), in which lubricating means ( 38, 39, 48, 49, 52 ) are provided, enabling the side edges ( 2, 3 ) of the shutter ( 1 ) to be lubricated.

The invention relates to a shutter device designed to close off a bay orother opening, the shutter having at least one side edge displaced in aguide track and which can be moved between an open position and a closedposition.

Existing devices of this type have major disadvantages. In particular,it is necessary to apply a relatively high amount of force in order todisplace the shutter between its closed position and its open position.Furthermore, the shutter is displaced at a relatively slow speed toensure that it is not subjected to damage as it is moved into the openor closed position. As the shutter is being moved to its closed positionby applying a thrust force on the side edges of the shutter, these edgesmay well pucker and jam in the guide tracks, thereby preventing theshutter from being moved.

The purpose of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposinga device that will enable the shutter to be displaced between its openposition and its closed position at a higher speed without beingdamaged, whilst ensuring that its side edges do not jam in the guidetracks.

To this end, the invention proposes lubricating means, which will enablethe coefficient of friction at the side edges of the shutter in theguide tracks to be reduced.

In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the lubricating meanscomprise a lubricating element facing the side edge of the shutter,which enables this shutter to be lubricated relative to thecorresponding guide track.

In one specific embodiment of the invention, the lubricating elementco-operates with a reservoir containing liquid lubricant.

The lubricating element advantageously comprises a wick, one of the endsof which extends into said reservoir.

In one practical embodiment of the device proposed by the invention,said wick has a cutout at one of its ends, in which the side edge of theshutter is accommodated.

The reservoir advantageously extends along at least a part of the guidetrack.

In another embodiment of the device proposed by the invention, thelubricating element comprises a rotating member bearing against the sideedge of the shutter so that this member rotates as the shutter is openedor closed, it being possible for this member to co-operate with saidreservoir in order to distribute the liquid lubricant on the side edgeof the shutter as the member rotates.

In an alternative embodiment of the shutter device proposed by theinvention, the shutter is wound about a drum as the shutter is opened,this drum being at least partially hollow and containing said reservoir.

Other details and features of the invention will become clear from thedescription below, which is not intended to be restrictive, of variousspecific embodiments of a shutter device as proposed by the invention,given with reference to the appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram in vertical section showing a firstembodiment of a shutter device as proposed by the invention with theshutter in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 1, with the shutter inits open position.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the shutter device in the open position.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the top part of the guide tracksof the shutter device proposed by the invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the top part of the guide tracks of theshutter device proposed by the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram in perspective, showing the top part ofthe guide tracks of the shutter device proposed by the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the top part of the guide tracks of theshutter device proposed by the invention when the shutter is in theclosed position.

FIG. 8 is a section along line VIII-VIII indicated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a reservoir in which a wick is housed, in onespecific embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the wick illustrated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the wick illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 in aplanar position.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the wick illustrated in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a section along line XIII-XIII indicated in FIG. 4, in whichthe shutter device is fitted with the wick illustrated in FIGS. 10 to12.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a reservoir in which a wick is housed, in onespecific embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the wick illustrated in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a front view of the wick illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 in aplanar position.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the wick illustrated in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a section along line XIII-XIII indicated in FIG. 4 where theshutter device is fitted with the wick illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 17.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view in perspective of a shutter with tworotating members as proposed by the invention.

FIG. 20 is a cross-section through FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a horizontal section through a drum provided with a reservoirfor a liquid lubricant, as proposed in one practical embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 22 shows a horizontal section of a drum provided with a reservoirfor a liquid lubricant, as proposed in an alternative embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram, in perspective, of one very practicalembodiment of a lubricating system proposed by the invention.

FIG. 24 is a schematic exploded view of the lubricating systemillustrated in FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a font view of the top part of the guide tracks of theshutter device proposed by the invention.

FIG. 26 is a side view of the top part of the guide tracks illustratedin FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a section along line XXVII-XXVII indicated in FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a very schematic diagram of a scraper element with a part ofa shutter.

FIG. 29 is a section along line XXIX-XXIX indicated in FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is a front view of part of a side edge of a shutter proposed bythe invention.

FIG. 31 is a section along line XXXI-XXXI of FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is a schematic view in perspective of a part of a guide trackwith the lubricating element, in one specific embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 33 is a schematic exploded view of a guide track with re-locatingmeans.

FIG. 34 is a schematic view in perspective of the guide track with there-locating means.

FIG. 35 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 34 when the lubricatingelement is mounted to the re-locating means.

FIG. 36 is a schematic view in perspective of a part of the lubricatingelement.

FIG. 37 is a view in perspective of a part of the lubricating elementand of the covering for this element.

FIG. 38 is a view in perspective of the lubricating element in FIG. 37with a covering impregnated with a liquid lubricant. The same referencenumbers are used in the different drawings to denote identical orsimilar elements.

Generally speaking, the present invention relates to a shutter deviceco-operating with driving means, such as a drum, the axis of which isconnected to the shaft of an electric motor. The shutter, the side edgesof which are lubricated as they are displaced in the guide tracks, isdisplaced in a downward and upward motion between a closed position andan open position respectively, and is designed to close off a bay in awall or a passage, such as a corridor.

The word “shutter” as used in the context of the present inventionshould be construed as meaning any planar element which is at leastpartially pliable, flexible, semi-rigid, rigid or having one or morestiffeners, such as a canvas, a strip of plastics material, a metalcover, a trellis, a metal sheet or a metal shutter, etc. . . .Accordingly, the shutter may be provided in the form of a sectionaldoor.

It should be pointed out, however, that particular preference is givento flexible shutters in the form of a canvas, for example. The appendeddrawings relate more specifically to such a canvas.

FIG. 1 provides a schematic illustration of the shutter device in theclosed position, whilst FIGS. 2 and 3 show the shutter device in theopen position. This device comprises a shutter 1 with side edges 2 and 3projecting beyond the plane of the shutter, which are advantageouslyprovided in the form of a continuous bead or a succession of smallblocks articulated one about the other displaced in guide tracks 4 and5. The guide tracks 4 and 5 are provided at either side of a bay 6arranged in a wall 7.

Provided above the bay 6 is a drum 8, on which the shutter 1 can bewound. Driving means 9, such as an electric motor for example, activatea shaft 10 extending along the axis of the drum 8 to enable the shutter1 to be wound on the drum 8 to bring it into the open position orenabling it to be unwound into its closed position.

The guide tracks 4 and 5 consist of a top part 11 and a bottom part 12,as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7. The top part 11 is provided withre-locating means 13. These re-locating means 13 enable the side edges 2and 3 to be re-located in the guide tracks 4 and 5 during opening of theshutter 1 when they are released from the guide tracks 4 and 5. The sideedges 2 and 3 may be released if there is an obstacle between the guidetracks 4 and 5 when the shutter 1 is being closed, for example, or if avehicle has collided with the shutter 1, for example.

FIG. 8 illustrates a section through the bottom part 12 of the guidetracks 4 and 5. A support 14 having a U-shaped section encloses theguide tracks 4 and 5, which are provided with two longitudinal rims 15and 16 extending on either side of the side edges 2 and 3 of the shutter1. These rims 15 and 16 are directed towards one another forming a slit20 so as to partially enclose the side edges 5 or 6 of the shutter 1. Inthe embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, each guide track 4 and 5 comprisestwo separate sections 17 and 18, which are retained in a substantiallyC-shaped base section. Threaded rods 21 are welded by one on of theirends at regular distances along the back of the section 19.

The bottom part 12 of the guide tracks 4 and 5 is elastically and/orpivotably mounted relative to the fixed support 14. The threaded rods 21extend through the support 14 and a rigid sleeve 22 is threaded onto therod 21 between section 19 and section 14. A helical spring 23 is alsoprovided between the latter and a nut 24 screwed onto the end of thethreaded rods 21. This mounting of the guide tracks 4 and 5 is describedand illustrated in patent specification EP 0 587 586, for example.

The top part 11 of the guide tracks 4 and 5 has a frame 25 with aU-shaped section having a base 26 and two flanges 27 and 28. The flanges27 and 28 are folded towards the exterior to form two rims 29 and 30extending substantially parallel with the base 26. A flat piece 31 and32 is secured to each of these rims 29 and 30 by means of bolts 33. Eachof the flat pieces 31 and 32 is provided with a substantially continuousedge directed one towards the other so that a slit 34 is formed betweenthese flat pieces 31 and 32.

The projecting side edge 2 or 3 of the shutter 1 is accommodated in thespace formed between the flanges 27 and 28 of the frame 25, so that theshutter 1 extends through the slit 34. The width of this slit 34 isslightly larger than the thickness of the shutter 1 and smaller than thethickness of the projecting edge 2 and 3 so that this edge can not comeout through the space between the flanges 27 and 28 whilst allowing theactual shutter to slide between the edges facing the flat pieces 31 and32.

The top end of the bottom part 12 of the guide tracks 4 and 5 is fixedto the frame 25 between the flanges 27 and 28 so that the slit 34between the flat pieces 31 and 32 is aligned with the slit 20 betweenthe rims 15 and 16. To this end, a threaded rod 21 extends through acutout 35 provided in the base 26 of the frame 25. A rigid sleeve 22 isthreaded onto the rod 21 between the frame 25 and the support 14. Inorder to preserve clarity in the drawings, the latter is not illustratedin FIGS. 5 to 7.

The end of the flat pieces 31 and 32 facing the bottom part 12 of theguide tracks 4 and 5 is folded back in the shape of a loop, therebyforming a rounded surface 36 and 37. As the shutter 1 is opened, oncethe side edges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1 have been released from thebottom part 12 of the guide tracks, these rounded surfaces 36 and 37exert a thrust force on the side edges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1 so as tore-locate the latter in the top part 11 of the guide tracks between theflanges 27 and 28 of the frame 25.

In the embodiment of the shutter device illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, thepart of the rims 15 and 16 facing the rounded surfaces 36 and 37 is cutaway to make it easier to re-locate the side edges 2 and 3 in the guidetracks 4 and 5.

The end of the bottom part 12 of the guide tracks facing the roundedsurfaces 36 and 37 is bevelled to ensure that the shutter 1 movecontinuously as it is displaced into its closed position.

The shutter device proposed by the invention is provided with alubricating element to improve the sliding action of the side edges 2and 3 of the shutter 1 in the guide tracks 4 and 5. In particular, thislubricating element is a wick 38 which can be inhibited by a liquidlubricant, such as oil, and is in permanent contact with the side edges2 and 3 of the shutter 1.

In the shutter device illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, this wick 38 isprovided in the form of a strip of porous material capable of absorbinga liquid lubricant, for example a strip of fabric, and is provided inthe region of the top part 11 of the guide tracks 4 and 5. The wick 38extends into a reservoir 39 containing said liquid lubricant. At leastthe bottom end 40 of the wick 38 is immersed in this liquid lubricant.The other end 41 is in contact with the side edges 2 and 3 of theshutter 1 so that the liquid lubricant from the reservoir 39 isdistributed on these side edges 2 and 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the top end 41 of the wick 38 is folded in aright angle and has a recess 42 in which the side edge 2 or 3 of theshutter 1 is accommodated. This enables the liquid lubricant to bedistributed substantially uniformly along the contour of the side edges2 and 3 of the shutter 1. In particular, this end 41 of the wick 38extends beyond the side edges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1 so that theregion of the shutter 1 extending through the slits 20 and 34 of theguide tracks 4 and 5, close to the side edges 2 and 3, is alsolubricated. For this reason, the flat pieces 31 and 32 have a cutout 45and 46, through which the end of the wick 38 extends, lubricating theregion of the shutter 1 close to its side edges.

The reservoir 39, which is tubular in shape, extends along the guidetracks 4 and 5. This reservoir is located between the flanges 27 and 28of the frame 25 and in particular is housed between the base 26 of theframe 25 and the side edges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1.

The top part of the reservoir 39 is provided with a rectangular cutout43 through which the top end 41 of the wick 38 extends. Consequently,the bottom end 40 of the wick 38 extends substantially in the directionof the guide tracks 4 and 5 whilst the top end 41, which is in contactwith the side edges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1, extends substantiallytransversely to this direction.

The reservoir 39 has an orifice 44 at its top part, through which liquidlubricant can be introduced.

Not only does the wick 38 lubricate the side edges 2 and 3 of theshutter 1 as it is displaced into its closed position or into its openposition, it also enables these side edges 2 and 3 to be constantlycleaned.

FIGS. 9 to 13 illustrate another embodiment of the wick 38. The top end41 of the wick 38 has a cutout 42, the dimensions and shape of whichmatch the contours of the side edges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1 and theregion of the shutter 1 in the vicinity of these edges 2 and 3. Inparticular, this cutout 42 is shaped in a circle which joins up with aslit enclosing the region of the shutter 1 close to its side edges 2 and3.

FIGS. 14 to 18 illustrate yet another embodiment of the wick 38, whichdiffers from the embodiment described above due to the presence of anotch 47 located at the top end 41 of the wick 38. In particular, thisnotch 47 located between the cutout 42 designed to enclose the sideedges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1 and the bottom end 40 housed in thereservoir 39. Accordingly, the flow rate of the liquid lubricant fromthe reservoir 39 to the side edges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1 can becontrolled.

FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate yet another embodiment of the lubricatingelement proposed by the invention. This lubricating element has aspherically shaped rotating member 48, which is mounted so as to bearagainst the side edge 2 or 3 of the shutter 1. As illustrated in thesedrawings, such a rotating member 48 is provided on either side of theplane of the shutter 1. The rotating member 48 is more specifically incontact with the side edge of the shutter 1 at the same point at whichthis side edges slides against the rims 15 and 16 of the guide tracks 4and 5. To enable this rotating member 48 to be mounted, a cutout ispreferably provided in the guide tracks 4 and 5. Alternatively, therotating member 48 is mounted facing the top end of the guide tracks 4and 5.

This rotating member 48 co-operates with a reservoir 49 containing aliquid lubricant. In particular, the rotating member 48 is housed in thereservoir 49, which is cylindrical in shape, and extends partiallythrough a circular orifice 50 provided in this reservoir 49. Therotating member 48 is a bearing, which is held against the edge of theorifice 50 by means of a helical spring 51. The diameter of the orificeis 50 smaller than the diameter of the bearing so that the latter isunable to slip out of the reservoir 49.

When the shutter 1 is displaced between its open position and its closedposition, this rotating member 48 is caused to rotate due to thefriction between the rotating member and the corresponding edge of theshutter 1. During this rotation, the liquid lubricant in the reservoiris transferred to the side edges of the shutter 1 via the surface of therotating member 48.

Accordingly, whenever the shutter is moved in the direction of the guidetracks 4 and 5, liquid lubricant is distributed on the side edges 2 and3 of the shutter 1 and on the region of the shutter 1 close to the sideedges 2 and 3.

This embodiment of the lubricating element is particularly practicalbecause it enables the liquid lubricant to be metered quite precisely onthe edges of the shutter 1. In effect, once a sufficient quantity ofliquid lubricant has been applied to the edges of the shutter, thefriction between the rotating member and the corresponding side edge ofthe shutter becomes negligible, so that the rotating member 48 is nolonger driven by the displacement of the shutter 1 but slides on it and,as a result, no additional liquid is distributed on the edges of theshutter.

It is also possible for the rotating member to incorporate one or morecylinders capable of rotating about their axes, which partially extendinto a reservoir containing a liquid lubricant and which are mounted soas to bear on the side edges of the shutter 1. Instead of co-operatingdirectly with a reservoir, the rotating element may be in contact with awick impregnated with a liquid lubricant, for example.

FIG. 21 schematically illustrates another embodiment of the shutterdevice with a reservoir 52 containing liquid lubricant. The shutter 1 iswound onto a hollow drum 8, located above the bay 6, as illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 3. A reservoir 52 is provided inside each of the ends of thedrum 8 on which the shutter 1 is wound.

This reservoir 52 is linked to the lubricating element via a conduit 53extending along the longitudinal axis of the drum 8. Said conduit opensonto a metering device 54 mounted in the interior of the reservoir 52.This metering device looks like a spoon in appearance and rotates withthe shaft 10 thereby permitting a quantity of liquid lubricant to flowintermittently towards the lubricating element as the drum 8 rotates. Inparticular, as the shutter 1 is opened or closed, the metering device 54picks up a specific quantity of the liquid lubricant contained in thereservoir 52 with each rotation of the drum 8. This quantity of liquidlubricant flows via the conduit 53 towards the lubricating element.

This lubricating element may be provided in the form of a wick forexample, which is in contact with the side edge of the shutter 1, or anorifice in the guide tracks through which the liquid is introduced intothe latter in order to lubricate the contact surface between the sideedges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1 and the guide tracks 4 and 5.

If the lubricating element has an orifice opening into the guide tracks4 and 5 at a precise point, the liquid lubricant is distributed in theguide tracks 4 and 5 as the shutter 1 is displaced towards its closedposition or its open position.

Using said metering device 54 enables the liquid lubricant contained inthe reservoir 52 to be mixed if this liquid is made up of severalcomponents, for example.

FIG. 22 illustrates an embodiment of the reservoir 52 of the shutterdevice which differs from the preceding embodiment due to the fact thatthe conduit 53 extending along the longitudinal axis of the drum 8 islinked to the reservoir 52 by passages 55 extending through the shaft 10transversely to this axis.

FIGS. 23 and 24 illustrate yet another embodiment of the shutter deviceproposed by the invention, in which a reservoir 39 for a liquidlubricant is provided at the bottom end of the bottom part 12 of theguide tracks 4 and 5.

The bottom end 40 of a wick 38 is immersed in the liquid lubricantcontained in the reservoir 39. The top end 41 of this wick 38 is housedin a cutout 56 provided in the guide tracks 4 and 5 at a certaindistance from the reservoir 39. This cutout 56 is specifically providedin the form of a cutout in the guide tracks 4 and 5 through which thetop end 41 of the wick extends so as to enclose the corresponding sideedge 2 or 3 of the shutter 1.

The part of the wick 38 extending between the reservoir 39 and thecutout 56 is retained in a cylindrical sleeve 27 which extends along thecorresponding part of the guide tracks 4 and 5.

As the shutter 1 is moved to its open or closed position, liquidlubricant is applied to the bottom end of the side edges 2 and 3 of theshutter 1 via said wick 38. As the shutter 1 is subsequently movedtowards the open position, this liquid lubricant is then distributed inthe part of the guide tracks 4 and 5 located above the top end 41 of thewick 38. When the shutter 1 is then displaced towards its closedposition, the side edges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1 are lubricatedrelative to the guide tracks 4 and 5.

Accordingly, the quantity of liquid lubricant present on the side edges2 and 3 of the shutter 1 and in the guide tracks 4 and 5 isautomatically metered. In particular, any surplus liquid lubricant onthe side edges 2 and 3 or in the guide tracks 4 and 5 flows back downthe guide tracks 4 and 5 into the reservoir 39.

The reservoir 39 is housed in a frame 58 with a U-shaped section, theflanges 59 and 60 of which extend on either side of the guide tracks 4and 5. The edges of the flanges 59 and 60 are linked to one another by aplate 61, thus forming said reservoir 39 in the frame 59 between theflanges 59 and 60 and this plate 61.

The top of the reservoir 39 has a closure in the form of a plate 62 withtwo cutouts 63 and 64. Said wick extends through the first cutout 63,whilst the second cutout 64 allows the reservoir 39 to be topped up withliquid lubricant on the one hand and allows liquid lubricant in to flowback from the guide tracks 4 and 5 into the reservoir 39 on the other.To prevent any propagation of liquid lubricant to the side of thereservoir 39, said plate 61 extends slightly beyond the level of theplate 62.

As illustrated in FIG. 23, the reservoir 39 can be refilled using asyringe 65 by injecting liquid lubricant into the reservoir 39 throughthe cutout 64.

FIGS. 25 to 29 illustrate a scraper system allowing liquid lubricantpresent on the side edges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1 to flow back to thereservoir 39 illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 24.

This scraper system comprises a scraper element 66 provided in the toppart 11 of the guide tracks 4 and 5 and enclosing the side edges 2 and 3of the shutter and the part of the shutter 1 adjacent to these sideedges 2 and 3.

As the shutter 1 is displaced towards its open position, the liquidlubricant present on the side edges 2 and 3 is removed by the scraperelement 66 and flows via the guide tracks 4 and 5 to the reservoir 39.

The scraper element 66 has an inclined part 67, which extends betweenthe base 26 of the frame 25 and the side edges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1,and a vertical part 68 extending along said base 26. The top end of theinclined part 67 extends through a cutout, specifically provided forthis purpose in the flat pieces 31 and 32 on either side of the slit 34.

FIGS. 30 and 31 illustrate an embodiment of the shutter 1 proposed bythe invention which has the advantage of enabling surplus liquidlubricant on the side edges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1 to flow back tosaid reservoir 39. In particular, the shutter 1 is provided withsuccessive grooves 69 in the region adjacent to the side edges 2 and 3,which extend as far as these edges 2 and 3. The grooves 69 are parallelwith one another and are inclined so that any liquid lubricantdistributed on the shutter 1 in the region of these grooves 69 flowstowards the side edges 2 and 3 located in the guide tracks 4 and 5. Theliquid lubricant is than able to flow back along the side edges 2 and 3or the guide tracks 4 and 5 to the reservoir 39.

In FIGS. 32 to 38 yet another embodiment of the lubricating element forthe side edges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1 proposed by the invention isillustrated. The guide track 4 or 5 illustrated in these figurescomprises a metallic section 70 in the form of U, in which isaccommodated a sliding section 71, formed by two parallel cylinders 71′and 71″ connected one to another as to present thus a section in theform of a 8.

In order to retain the sliding section 71 in the metallic section 70 theedges of the latter are folded one to another thereby enclosing thesliding section 71 in the area where the two cylinders of this section71 are joining. Consequently, one of these cylinders 71″ extends outsidethe metallic section 70. The latter cylinder of the sliding section 71is provided with a slit 72 extending along its longitudinal direction sothat the side edge 2 or 3 of the shutter 1 can slide in this cylinder71″ while the region of the shutter 1 adjacent to the side edge 2 or 3extends through this slit 72.

Preferably, the sliding section 71 is made of a plastic material, suchas for example polyethylene, whilst the side edges 2 and 3 of theshutter 1 are, for example, made of polyurethane.

The guide tracks 4 and 5 present a cutout 73 in which a lubricatingelement 74 is housed as illustrated in FIG. 32. In the embodiment of theinvention illustrated in this figure, the cutout 73 is only provided inthe part of the sliding section 71 extending outside the metallicsection 70.

On both side edges of the upper part of the guide tracks 4 and 5 a flatpiece 75, respectively 76 is mounted, which is provided with twosupporting stops 77 and 78. The stops 77 an 78 of the respective flatpieces are directed one towards the other whilst keeping a free spacebetween these respective stops, whereby the width of the free spacesubstantially corresponds to the width of the slit 72.

When the side edge 2 or 3 is released from the bottom part of thecorresponding guide track 4 or 5, the shutter 1 is moved towards itsopen position such that the side edge 2 or 3 of the shutter 1 isre-located in the concerned guide track 4 or 5 as a consequence of thecontact between the side edge 2 and 3 and the lower stops 77.

The lubricating element 74, which is illustrated more in detail in theFIGS. 36 to 38, is fixed between the two flat pieces 75 and 76 and islocated in the above-mentioned cutout 73.

FIG. 36 shows the lubricating element 74 which comprises a support 79having a cylindrical form 80 with a slit 81 extending parallel to theaxis of the cylinder 80 and over the whole length of thereof. Each ofthe edges of this slit 81 is delimited by surfaces 82 and 83 whichextend parallel one to another and which are designed to enclose theregion of the shutter 1 adjacent to the corresponding side edge 2 or 3of the latter.

The edges of the surfaces 82 and 83 are folded towards the exterior andhave a groove 84, respectively 85, in which the edge of thecorresponding flat piece 75 or 78 is housed when the lubricating element74 is mounted on the guide tracks 4 and 5 as shown in FIG. 35.

The inner diameter of the cylindrical part 80 of the support 79substantially corresponds to the inner diameter of the cylinder 71″ ofthe sliding section 71 in which the side edge 2 or 3 of the shuttermoves and the width of the slit 81 substantially corresponds to thewidth of the slit 72 of the sliding section. In this way, the support 79encloses the side edge 2 and 3 of the shutter 1 when the lubricatingelement is mounted on the guide tracks 4 and 5.

The inner surface of the support 79 is preferably covered with acovering of an open-pored elastic material or a fibrous materialimpregnated with a liquid lubricant.

Such a covering 88, as illustrated in FIG. 37, is for example formed ofa cloth having the form of a H which is applied against the innersurface 89 of the support 79. The arms 90 of this H are then folded backaround the corresponding side edges of the aforementioned surfaces 82and 83 in order to be fixed against the exterior side of the support 79.To this end, the support 79 has a groove 91 extending at the exteriorside of the surfaces 82 and 83 close to the cylinder 80 and a groove 92that is provided between the edges of the surfaces 82 and 83 and saidgrooves 84 and 85. The grooves 91 and 92 are directed towards eachother. Accordingly, the abovementioned arms 90 can be housed in thegrooves 91 and 92 against the exterior surface of the support 79.

The presence of the arms 90 permits to the increase the quantity ofliquid lubricant that is contained in the covering 88.

The lubricating element 74 is for example manually impregnated withlubricating oil by means of a flask 93, as illustrated in FIG. 38.

It is clear that the lubricating element 74 does not necessarily have tobe provided within a cutout in the guide tracks 4 or 5 and that thiselement 74 can be located at the upper end of the guide tracks 4 and 5as well.

By means of the lubricating element 74 not only the side edges 2 and 3of the shutter 1 are lubricated, this element 74 equally assures thecleaning of these side edges 2 and 3. In particular, when the shutter 1is moved between its open position and its closed position, dust, suchas for example grains of sand, which would be present on the sides edges2 and 3, is collected on the lubricating element 74 and removed from theside edges 2 and 3. When this lubricating element 74 does not containenough liquid lubricant anymore to lubricate the side edges 2 and 3 ofthe shutter 1 and/or when a certain quantity of dust is collected on thelubricating element 74, the latter is taken down from the guide tracks 4and 5 and replaced by a new lubricating element 74.

The shutter device can also comprise a detection system allowing todetect whether the friction between the side edges 2 and 3 of theshutter 1 and the guide tracks is too high. When the friction isdetected to pass a certain value, the shutter 1 is displaced towards itsopen position and the lubricating element 74 is replaced by a newlubricating element 74 which is impregnated with a liquid lubricant.

Such a detection system comprises, for example, a switch, which isprovided in front of a cutout in the guide tracks 4 and 5. Thedimensions of this cutout allow the side edges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1to form a loop extending through this cutout thereby acting upon theaforementioned switch when the friction of the side edges 2 and 3 of theshutter 1 in the guide tracks 4 and 5 is exceeding a certain value whenclosing the shutter 1. The switch then cooperates with the command unitof the shutter device in order to move the shutter 1 into its openposition and to give a signal that the lubricating element 74 has to bereplaced.

Such a detection system is, for example, described in the patentapplication WO 02/066776.

It is clear that still other possibilities exist for detecting whethersaid friction between the side edges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1 and theguide tracks 4 and 5 exceeds a certain value. For example, it ispossible to provide a detector in the region of the drum 8 onto whichthe shutter is wound, as equally described in the patent application WO02/066776. When the shutter 1 is unrolled towards its closed positionand said friction is too high such that the movement of the shutter ishindered, a loop is formed in the region close to the drum, whereby thisloop is activating said detector so as to open the shutter 1 again. Thena signal is given that the side edges 2 and 3 of the shutter 1 have tobe lubricated, for example, by replacing the lubricating element 74 orby a new impregnation of this element 74 with a liquid lubricant.

The invention is not limited to the various embodiments described aboveand other variants would be conceivable without departing from the scopeof the present invention, particularly as regards the mounting of thereservoir relative to the guide tracks. For example, the reservoircontaining the liquid lubricant could be mounted on the wall 7 and thisreservoir linked to the lubricating element in the vicinity of the sideedges of the shutter by means of an appropriate conduit.

If a reservoir with liquid lubricant is provided underneath the bottomend of the guide tracks, the side edges of the shutter may have a wickat their bottom end, which will be immersed in the liquid lubricant whenthe shutter is in the closed position. When the shutter is opened, thiswick is displaced in the guide tracks, thereby applying the liquidlubricant in these guide tracks.

The description above relates to a liquid lubricant. However, undercertain circumstances, it would also be possible to use a solidlubricating product in the form of one or more sticks, which are mountedso that one of their ends is brought to bear against the side edges ofthe shutter by means of a spring. A solid lubricant of this type mightbe paraffin, for example.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that the invention is not limited toa device whereby the shutter is wound on a drum. It would also bepossible for the shutter to be folded into a box mounted above theopening as it is opened or for the shutter to be displaced in ahorizontal plane above the opening.

The invention concerns in particular a shutter device of which at leastone side edge is guided by a guide track in order to close off a bay oranother opening. Thus, the shutter could, for example, be moved in ahorizontal direction when it is hanged with a side edge in the guidetrack which is extending horizontally.

The shutter does not necessarily have to be moved vertically, but itcan, for example, also be displaced horizontally to close off an openingextending in a horizontal plane.

Under certain circumstances, the side edges may have a bead made from anopen-pored cellular elastomer to improve lubrication.

1. Shutter device designed to close off a bay (6) or other opening, theshutter (1) having at least one side edge (2, 3) being displaced in aguide track (4, 5) provided at one side of the bay or of the said otheropening, characterised in that lubricating means (38, 39, 48, 49, 52,74) are provided to enable the side edge (2, 3) of the shutter (1) to belubricated.
 2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that thelubricating means comprise a lubricating element (38, 48,74) disposedfacing the side edge (2, 3) of the shutter (1), enabling this edge (2,3) to be lubricated relative to the corresponding guide track (4, 5). 3.Device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the lubricatingelement (38, 48) co-operates with a reservoir (39, 49, 52) containing aliquid lubricant.
 4. Device as claimed in claim 3, characterised in thatthe reservoir (39) extends along at least a part of the guide track (4,5).
 5. Device as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the reservoir(39) is provided at the bottom end of the guide tracks (4, 5).
 6. Deviceas claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that a scraperelement (66) co-operates with the side edge (4, 5) of the shutter (1)causing any surplus liquid lubricant to flow back to the reservoir (39).7. Device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, characterised in thatthe lubricating element is a wick (38), one of the ends (40) of whichextends into said reservoir.
 8. Device as claimed in any one of claims 2to 7, characterised in that the lubricating element is a wick (38) witha cutout (42) at one of its ends (41) in which the side edge (2, 3) ofthe shutter (1) is accommodated.
 9. Device as claimed in claim 7 or 8,characterised in that the wick (38) is provided in the form of a stripof a porous material capable of absorbing the liquid lubricant, one part(40) of which extends in the direction of the guide track (4, 5), whilstthe other part (41) extends substantially transversely to this directionand is in contact with the side edge (2, 3) of the shutter (1). 10.Device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 9, characterised in that thelubricating element is a rotating member (48) mounted so as to bearagainst the side edge (2, 3) of the shutter (1) so that the member (48)is caused to rotate when the shutter (1) is opened or closed, thismember (48) being able to co-operate with said reservoir (49) in orderto distribute the liquid lubricant on the side edge (2, 3) of theshutter (1) as the member (48) rotates.
 11. Device as claimed in claim10, characterised in that the rotating member (48) is a bearingpartially extending into the liquid lubricant of the reservoir (49). 12.Device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 11, characterised in thatthe shutter (1) is wound on a drum (8) as the shutter is opened, thisdrum (8) being at least partially hollow in order to accommodate saidreservoir (52).
 13. Device as claimed in claim 12, characterised in thatthe drum (8) has a conduit (53) extending along the longitudinal axis ofthe drum (8) which links the reservoir (52) with the lubricating element(38, 48).
 14. Device as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that saidconduit (53) opens onto a metering device (54) extending into saidreservoir (52) and enabling a quantity of liquid lubricant to flowtowards the lubricating element (38, 48) when the drum (8) is rotated.15. Device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 14, characterised inthat the lubricating element (38) at least partially encloses the sideedge (2, 3) of the shutter (1).
 16. Device as claimed in any one ofclaims 1 to 15, characterised in that grooves (69) are provided in theregion adjacent to the side edge (2, 3) of the shutter (1) so thatliquid lubricant flows towards this side edge (2, 3).
 17. Device asclaimed in claim 2, characterised in that the lubricating element (74)is, at least partially, made of an open-pored or fibrous material thatis impregnated with a liquid lubricant.
 18. Device as claimed in claim17, characterised in that the lubricating element (74) is fitted in theguide track (4,5) or is mounted in the prolongation of the latter sothat this element at least partially surrounds the corresponding sideedge (2,3) of the shutter (1) when the latter is displaced in the guidetrack (4,5).
 19. Device as claimed in claim 17 or 18, characterised inthat the lubricating element (74) encloses the side edge (2,3) of theshutter (1) and the region of the latter adjacent to this side edge(2,3).
 20. Device as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19,characterised in that the lubricating element (74) is housed within acutout (73) provided in the corresponding guide track (4,5).
 21. Deviceas claimed in any one of claims 17 to 20, characterised in that thelubricating element (74) comprises a support (79) with an inner surface(89) which encloses the side edge (2,3) of the shutter (1), said innersurface (89) being covered with a covering (88) of said porous orfibrous material.
 22. Device as claimed in claim 21, characterised inthat a part of said covering (88) is folded back towards the outersurface of the lubricating element (74).
 23. Lubricating element for ashutter device designed to close off a bay (6) or other opening, theshutter (1) having at least one side edge (2,3) being displaced in aguide track (4, 5) during the opening or the closure of the shutter (1),characterised in that the lubricating element (74) comprises a support(79) with an inner surface (89) which encloses the side edge (2,3) ofthe shutter (1), said inner surface (89) being covered with a covering(88) of an open-pored or fibrous material impregnated by a liquidlubricant.
 24. Lubricating element as claimed in claim 23, characterisedin that the inner surface (89) has a cylindrical form with a slit (81)extending parallel to the axis of this cylinder and along the wholelength of the latter, each of the edges of this slit (81) having asurface (82, 83) extending parallel to each other and designed toenclose the region of the shutter (1) adjacent to the corresponding sideedge (2, 3) of the latter.
 25. Lubricating element as claimed in claim23 or 24, characterised in that a part of said covering (88) is foldedback towards the outer surface of said support.
 26. Method forcontrolling the lubricating of at least one side edge (2,3) of a shutter(1) which is displaced between an open position and a closed position inorder to open or close a bay (6) or another opening in a wall (7), theside edge (2, 3) of the shutter (1) being guided in a guide track (4,5), characterised in that one detects whether the friction between theside edge (2, 3) and the guide track (4, 5) exceeds a certain value whenthe shutter (1) is displaced towards its closed position and that, whenthe friction is exceeding this value, the shutter (1) is displacedtowards its open position and next a liquid lubricant is applied on theside edge (2, 3) of the shutter (1) when displacing it towards itsclosed position.
 27. Method as claimed in claim 26, characterised inthat said liquid lubricant is applied on the side edge (2, 3) of theshutter (1) by replacing the lubricating element (74), which is providedin the region of the displacement path of the side edge (2, 3) of theshutter (1) or by impregnating this lubricating element (74) with aliquid lubricant.
 28. Method as claimed in claim 26 or 27, characterisedin that, in order to detect whether said friction is exceeding saidvalue, the forming of a loop in the side edge (2, 3) of the shutter (1)is detected when it is moved towards its closed position.
 29. Method asclaimed in claim 28, characterised in that a cutout is provided in theguide track (4, 5) through which said loop can extend when the frictionis exceeding said value.
 30. Method as claimed in claim 28,characterised in that a free space is provided upstream the guide track(4, 5) where said loop can be formed when the friction exceeds saidvalue.
 31. Method as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 30,characterised in that a detector is provided in the region where saidloop can be formed.
 32. Method as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 31,characterised in that the shutter (1) has a substantially incompressiblezone extending according to the direction of the side edge (2, 3) of theshutter (1) such that a thrust force can be applied upon that zoneaccording to said direction in order to move the shutter (1) towards itsclosed position.
 33. Method as claimed in the preceding claim,characterised in that said incompressible zone comprises the side edge(2, 3) of the shutter (1).